How to free up space on your PC

Over time, your computer can become a dumping ground for files and apps you no longer need. But with our tech tips, you can restore valuable storage space on your PC and use it for files that are actually useful.

To effectively manage your computer, it's worth learning how to identify and uninstall storage-hogging apps, deal with downloads, use zipped folders, and more.

Freeing up space on your computer doesn't need to be a headache. Below, we explain practical ways to clear storage on Windows and macOS, each with step-by-step instructions.

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7 ways to free up space on your PC

1. Organise your Downloads folder

If you regularly download new software to your computer, it's worth checking your Downloads folder to see if any non-essential files are hiding in there.

When you download new software, the .exe (Windows) or .dmg (macOS) files are used only for the initial setup. Once the program is installed and working properly, these files are usually safe to delete.

Software aside, you might find out-of-date documents, unnecessary images or PDFs in your folder. Take a moment to look through it and sort files by date modified or file size to quickly spot large or older items.

2. Empty your recycle bin

Clearing out your deleted files is one of the easiest ways to free up space on your PC in seconds.

Deleting files from your desktop or a folder in File Explorer or Finder doesn't always mean they're gone for good. The benefit of having a recycle bin on your desktop is that it acts as a safety net in case you change your mind.

But remember, if you delete a file from the Recycle Bin or Trash, it’s removed from your system. In some cases, it may still be recoverable using specialist recovery software, but this isn’t guaranteed. Our guide on how to recover deleted files has more details.

Still using Windows 10? Find out how you need to prepare for Windows 10 losing security support.

3. Try Disk Cleanup or Mac Storage Management

Both Windows and macOS have built-in tools for freeing up disk space. On older versions of Windows, you can use Disk Cleanup, while Windows 11 includes a more advanced storage management tool. On macOS, it's called Storage Management.

By running these tools every so often, you can recover space by removing temporary files, system files and other unnecessary data. It’s a good idea to check every few weeks, especially if your storage is starting to fill up.

If your computer is getting sluggish with age and doesn't improve with these tips, you might want to consider a replacement. Our expert advice on the best laptops and best all-in-one PCs will help you choose wisely.

4. Identify large apps and uninstall them if needed

There's no point in having space-hogging apps on your PC if you don't use them. Over time, that list of unused apps can grow and take up a significant amount of space on your hard drive.

Removing larger apps can quickly free up space, especially if they're games or creative software. On both Windows and macOS, it’s relatively straightforward to uninstall them. Note that uninstalling an app usually removes the program itself, but some leftover files may remain.

5. Plug in an external drive (or try cloud storage)

Files don't always need to be stored locally, so consider using a cloud storage service or an external drive to house documents, pictures and videos.

Opting for cloud storage means your files are stored online and can be accessed from other devices. These services can also act as a backup if your computer is lost or damaged, although you should still keep a second copy of important files where possible. There are free and paid-for options – Apple iCloud gives you 5GB for free, while Google Drive offers 15GB.

Windows and macOS both support cloud services that can automatically sync selected folders, helping you free up space without deleting files entirely.

An external drive is another option, but make sure you keep it in a safe place. You’ll need to connect it to your computer to access your files, so it’s best suited to backups or files you don’t need every day. For a belt-and-braces approach, use both cloud storage and an external drive.

Discover the best external hard drives and see our guide on how to choose the best cloud storage service.

6. Delete user accounts you don't need

If you have multiple user accounts on your computer, decide if any of them are no longer needed. Each account holds its own personal settings, downloads and files, so deleting a user will free up space.

Before you remove a user account, make sure you’ve checked its folders (such as Documents, Desktop and Downloads) and backed up anything important. See how to back up important files on your computer.

If you're dealing with slow wi-fi, you might be able to improve your experience with an extender. See our guide on the best mesh networks and wi-fi extenders.

7. Try Storage Sense on Windows or Optimise Storage on a Mac

Storage Sense is a built-in Windows feature that can automatically free up space by removing temporary files, emptying your Recycle Bin and clearing old downloads. It’s especially useful if you don’t want to manage storage manually.

On macOS, you get similar features, including tools to automatically remove watched content, empty the Bin and store files in iCloud.

Quick tips: 5 more ways to free up even more space on your PC

1. Clear web browser cache and cookies Clearing temporary web files can free up a small amount of space and may help to fix browsing issues. Steps vary depending on your browser. In Google Chrome, for example, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Delete browsing data, then choose what to remove.
2. Be picky with web browser extensions If you've installed extensions in the past, check whether you still need them. Extensions can take up space and may slow your browser down. To remove a Google Chrome extension, go to Settings > Extensions > Manage extensions, then select Remove.
3. Use compressed (zipped) folders for rarely used files Compressing files can reduce how much storage they use, although the space saved varies depending on file type (for example, photos and videos often compress less). On Windows, select files in File Explorer, right-click and choose Send to > Compressed (zipped) folder. On macOS, select multiple files, right-click and choose Compress.
4. Review Time Machine backups on macOS MacOS usually manages backups automatically, but local snapshots stored on your Mac can take up space. You can check storage usage under System Settings > General > Storage. Avoid deleting backups unless you’re confident you have other copies, as they’re important for recovery.
5. Remove duplicate files Third-party software can help you delete copies of files by scanning filenames or contents. One option is dupeGuru, available on both Windows and macOS.

Problems caused by a full hard drive

Don’t wait until your hard drive is completely full before cleaning it out; you’ll start to run into problems well before it’s bursting at the seams. Here are some common issues that could be caused by a lack of space.

• Unable to download files New software or important updates may not have enough space to download or install.
• Errors and restarts Computer updates can fail, or cause your computer to restart constantly as it tries again.
• General slowdown Your PC may appear to be running slowly for no obvious reason, as it struggles to find room to manage your day-to-day tasks.
• File and application slowdown Files and apps could take longer to open because there's so little space to store the temporary files they need to run smoothly.
• Interruptions Pop-up messages may appear from programs that can no longer function properly.

Our expert says:

'You should always leave some space on your storage drive to keep your computer running smoothly. While there’s no fixed rule, if you’ve got around 10% left, it’s a good sign that you should start freeing up space or consider expanding your storage.

'As space runs low, your computer may slow down noticeably, and apps can take longer to open because there’s less room for temporary files. You might also see error messages, failed downloads or apps crashing unexpectedly.

'It’s best to avoid letting storage get this full. In some cases, low disk space can make it harder to recover files if something goes wrong.’

Oliver Trebilcock, Which? computing expert

What to do if Windows needs more space to update

If you see a message saying Windows needs more space to install an update, it means your device doesn’t have enough free storage to complete it. This is more common on budget laptops with limited storage (for example, 32GB or 64GB drives), but it can happen on any PC if space is low.

We recommend heading to Start > Settings > System > Storage. From here, you can select temporary files to remove items such as update files, thumbnails and items in your Recycle Bin. You can also enable Storage Sense (mentioned above) and review what’s taking up space.

If you still don’t have enough space, Windows will usually give you the option to use external storage during the update. Plug in a USB stick, SD card or external drive when prompted, then select it from the list to continue the update.

Our tests uncover the best USB sticks.

4 things you should never do to free up disk space

1. Don’t use free 'PC cleaning tools'

No matter how much they promise to speed up your computer, many third-party cleaning tools offer little benefit beyond what Windows and macOS already provide. Some may delete files indiscriminately, and others risk removing important system data.

There are also security risks – some free tools include intrusive ads, bundle unwanted software, or try to push you into paying for unnecessary upgrades. Stick to built-in tools instead.

2. Don’t clean up the registry

More advanced users may be aware of the Windows registry, where important system settings are stored. However, editing or ‘cleaning’ the registry is rarely necessary on Windows 10 or 11, and the space saved is usually negligible. Deleting the wrong entries can cause apps (or even Windows itself) to stop working properly, so it’s best to avoid it.

3. Don't delete critical system files

Avoid deleting key folders on your main drive, such as Program Files, Windows, System32 or system files like pagefile.sys. Even if they appear large, these are essential for your computer to run properly, and removing them can cause Windows to stop working altogether.

4. Don't delete or empty storage devices you don't recognise

If you see an additional drive (often labelled D:) or a partition you don’t remember creating, it may be a recovery partition used by Windows.

These partitions contain files needed to reset or repair your computer, particularly on laptops. Deleting them could make it much harder to recover your system if something goes wrong.

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